By Blake Jackson
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, in collaboration with statewide allies, advocated for increased investment in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and school food programs this year.
Despite federal funding cuts, New York had the opportunity to bolster these crucial initiatives. While significant victories were achieved, the effort to secure funding for expanding local food economies and fulfilling the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's mandates continues.
A major achievement was the enactment of universal free school meals in New York's FY 2026 state budget. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, over 2.7 million students will receive free daily breakfast and lunch, making New York the ninth state to implement such a program.
The Environmental Protection Fund also saw a $25 million increase, providing modest but important gains for Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Climate Resilient Farming Program, and Farmland Protection. The John May Farm Safety Fund received a $150,000 increase, bolstering farm safety initiatives.
However, some areas require further attention. Funding for the 2025 Organic Certification Cost Share Program was unsuccessful, and critical farm-to-school initiatives received flat funding.
The $1 billion Sustainable Futures Fund, while a positive step, is considered modest, with a robust cap-and-invest program offering a potential $6 billion to $12 billion annually by 2030, a program whose release was unfortunately blocked by the Governor.
The legislative session, extended into May, compressed the timeline for non-budget bills, impacting several key initiatives. NOFA-NY's three priority bills did not advance. The "Good Food NY" bill, aiming to increase procurement of New York-grown foods by state agencies, stalled in the Assembly despite prior legislative passage and a gubernatorial veto.
A proposed five-year moratorium on the land application of sewage sludge (biosolids), introduced as the Biosolids Moratorium bill, gained significant bipartisan support but was ultimately laid aside due to industry backlash.
Similarly, the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, seeking to ban certain unsafe food additives, passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly due to food industry pushback.
Despite these challenges, progress was made in climate policy, with the elimination of the "100-foot rule" for gas utilities. While broader bans on PFAS "forever chemicals" in consumer products failed, a bill to ban PFAS in menstrual products passed, a crucial step in "turning off the tap" on harmful chemicals. NOFA-NY remains committed to cultivating a sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system for New Yorkers.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fatcamera
Categories: New York, Business, Government & Policy